Livingston leads Potters to Class 3A final four

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 1:01 AMFeb 26, 2013 at 1:07 AM

Class 3A supersectional game won by Morton at PTHS

Erich Murphy

Morton head coach Bob Becker seemed to understand the significance of his star performing well at the Class 3A Pontiac Supersectional Monday night. “This is Livingston County and Livingston stepped up pretty good,” Becker said of the 6-foot-2 Sarah Livingston. Livingston, a younger sister of former Illinois Mr. Basketball and NBA player Shaun Livingston, scored 27 points in leading the Potters into the Class 3A state tournament semifinal round. She scored 17 of her points in the second half when Morton pulled away. The game was tied at 8-8 after one period but it didn’t stay that close. Bishop Mac stars Khadaizha Sanders and Kyleigh Payne got in early foul trouble and the Potters were able to make the Irish pay. “Their two best players got in foul trouble and we had to seize the moment right then,” Becker said. “Our kids did that and opened it up to a double-digit lead and we didn’t look back.” Morton outscored McNamara 23-11 in the second period. Freshman Chandler Ryan put the exclamation point on the quarter surge with a 3-pointer just before the horn sounded. Ryan and Livingston were the key shooters in the second half. Ryan finished with 21 points for the Potters. She had 11 in the second half, including hitting some key 3-pointers, to complement Livingston’s inside dominance. “Our big dog Livingston stepped up and Chandler, our little dog, our freshman, shot lights out,” Becker said. “Kate Byrne had a huge defensive task to guard Sanders and did a great job.” Morton lost to Hillcrest in last year’s supersectional at PTHS. The Potters, behind a rather raucous cheering section, gave no indication after the first quarter that they were going let their season end in the Chief City again. “Kids like Kate Byrne and Sarah Livingston felt the heartache of losing here last year and they weren’t going to be denied,” Becker said. Morton will face Quincy Notre Dame in the second semifinal game Friday afternoon. QND, who won the Class 2A championship last season, defeated Breese Mater Dei 56-30 at Springfield. The other semifinal will pit Vernon Hills, a 39-31 winner over Burlington Central, against defending champion Montini, who defeated Chicago Phillips 72-41. Montini and Vernon Hills played for the state title last season.

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